Accident Overview
On April 3, 2022, at approximately 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, registration N857CP, was substantially damaged during an instructional flight near Sugar Land Regional Airport (KSGR) in Houston, Texas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Account
According to the student pilot, she was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 17. During the takeoff roll after a landing, she added full power and attempted to correct with right rudder. She perceived that the rudder was “locked into place.” Applying more pressure, the airplane corrected slightly to the right but then drifted left again. She then applied “full weight on the right rudder,” at which point the airplane began to drift right and left “very dramatically.” The nose rose, and the student pilot reduced engine power to avoid taking off. She applied brakes to stop but reported that only the left brake seemed to respond. The airplane jerked to the left and came to rest on the grass.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no obvious malfunctions with the flight controls. However, impact damage precluded a full rudder deflection test.
Witness Report
A flight instructor who witnessed the accident reported that the wind had increased beyond the forecast and beyond the student pilot’s stated limits. At the time of the accident, the wind was from 130° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The calculated crosswind component was 11 knots.